I'm too good!!

[m gardner]

Well I've killed the last two deer I've shot at with the bow. So I guess it was bound to happen. I got brought back into touch with reality last evening. I missed!! I found some large buck tracks on a stretch of road where the deer have taken to drinking out of the puddles since the last rain. This is an area of nasty desert with lots of chollas and a deer density of about 1 deer per 10 square miles at best. We finally found a good 3 point last night and he surprised me and I shot and skipped an arrow off his back. Last night I found no blood so we backed out after 100 yards. We went this morning and found the arrow(ouch! ooo! ouch!!) in the cactus and found some long hair with black ends. No blood on the arrow and no blood on the ground for a mile or so so I think he isn't hurt. We ranged the spot where I found the hair and it was 23 yards. I held a little high too because I could only see the top half of him and wanted to stay out of the cactus. I guessed him for 32 when I shot. You can't use the gap method if you can't see the whole chest. Well I'm taking the rest of today off and going to shoot him tomorrow. He's pretty rutty so I'm planning on stupidity helping (his not mine! ). The good thing is no one is hunting there except to drive down the two tracks that grid the area every mile or so. I think the cactus keeps them out. All I know is that you can't sit and rest anywhere.
Merry Christmas.
Mark

[MuleyMadness]

Thanks for the update, sorry about the miss but looks/sounds fun none-the-less.

[hound_hunter]

oohhh.tough. Well good luck with him, keep us informed

[Wild Antlers]

Sounds fun I love those tough hunts with no crowds!

[AntlersOutWest]

Too bad you missed.. Hopefully you get him.
WOW. Thats cool country to hunt.. Is it tough to scout?

[GKNUDSON]

Beautiful Country! I hope thats what NM is going to look like in to weeks

[6x6 bull]

Mark, I don't know much but I do know that if that animal gives you a second chance he will end up in your freezer.

[m gardner]

We tried some rattling and he came in but circled downwind and bolted. It's supposed to get cold this weekend so were encouraged. There's a doe there with a fawn following her around so I suspect she's not been bred yet. I think things may break loose in a week or so. There's a real monster in there too. We've seen the sign but not seen him yet. This is too much fun! GK I think New Mexico is a little different. I think that the saguaros aren't present but the nasty chollas are. Good luck on your hunt. Here's some more photos. I always wondered who could love a cactus. The first photo shows that they sometimes hug each other!
Mark

[AGCHAWK]

Happens to the best of us Mark!

Hey, 2 outa 3 ain't bad though, right?!